Overcoming the skills shortage

Is your workforce becoming a global workforce? If not, you should be thinking about it now.

I surveyed Job Capital recently. Of our 14 staff, I am the only person who was born in Australia.

We have a wonderful diversity of cultures, people, skills and backgrounds.

The majority of the team have permanently or temporarily migrated from Asia, India, Britain and Ireland. Job Capital sponsors almost 40% of our in-house team.

Since starting my company in 2006, I’ve been very open to finding the best person for the job. When I’m hiring, I always focus on skill sets, positive work attitudes and the ability to be an “A player.”

As a result, I’ve ended up hiring people from a range of backgrounds.

Without the government 457 Business Sponsorship visa programme, I doubt I would have been able to hire people with the skills required based on what our business required.

Job Capital became a sponsor under the programme in 2007, just 12 months after we started.

With increasing skill shortages across Australia spreading across all industries and areas, migration now is starting to become a critical strategy for economic growth.

Mining, engineering, nursing, education, health, infrastructure and agriculture are all reporting strong demand for skilled overseas workers.

According to Skills Australia (2010), Australia is set to require 2.4 million more workers by 2015.

With an ever shifting immigration policy, uncertainty in our two speed economy and a lack of confidence in our current federal government, businesses are literally fighting for the best talent.

That’s why Job Capital established its full service migration arm almost five years ago.

I predicted at the time that skill shortages would worsen and that legislation would make it more difficult for start-ups to navigate the migration process. Both of these predictions have come true.

With a team of talented migration experts and agents, we have managed to take the pain away for hundreds of companies, recruitment agencies and individuals seeking to work in Australia either permanently or temporarily.

So what does this mean for your start-up?

You can become a sponsoring company and you can compete employee temporary visa holders within your business.

These employees contribute greatly not only to your business objectives, but also to our national economy.

Within my business, the majority of visa holders have now become permanent residents and citizens. They have furthered their study and skills in Australia.

I love the diversity, the contribution and the value these workers bring.

There are no barriers to hiring overseas workers that meet the requirements, and Job Capital have become experts in this area. An opportunity taken in a market when lots of businesses were looking for a complete migration and hiring strategy.

The moral of the story?

Don’t let the up front complication of a migration process bamboozle you away from hiring the best person for the job. When you clearly require a skill set you have tried unsuccessfully to find locally…. Outsource it!